Stay in Shape During Pregnancy & Ease the Pain of Labor

We all know the importance of staying fit during pregnancy. Your OB or midwife will tell you to eat right, get moderate exercise, and of course drink lots of water. While walking, spinning class, or even prenatal yoga are great ways to maintain prenatal health, one of the best ways to actually prepare your body for birth is through dance.

I grew up attending the prestigious Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Pre-professional program. During these rigorous classes was the first time I learned how to connect with my body and control it. As a dancer you must be in tune with the music and the rhythm of the movement. And after having three children of my own, and supporting women as a birth doula, I believe the same can be said for birth.

Though no two births are exactly the same, there are some commonalities that most women experience: the undeniable change during transition where you have laser-like focus, the moment where you are ready to call it quits and wish someone else could deliver this baby, and if you allow it, the natural ‘figure 8’ like movement that your hips tend to make.

Each of my births took place in different locations (a traditional hospital, birthing center, and tub in my bedroom) but one thing was always consistent, making that swaying hip motion. Maybe it was because of my dance training or maybe it was some innate primal instinct we all possess, either way I knew it felt good.

A few months ago, the connection between birth and dance became so vividly clear that I knew I needed to share what I had learned with other mamas-to-be. Nancey Rosensweig, a certified nurse midwife based in upstate NY, who also happens to be an ex-professional dancer, echoed my sentiments by saying, “Surrendering to the natural movement of dance can be one of the best ways to prepare for labor.”

So I created Ready To POP Prenatal Dance as a safe, fun, and beneficial way for women to exercise during pregnancy and beyond. It incorporates simple ballet techniques for balance, hip-opening steps for stamina, and yoga postures for breath connections, all to music that makes you want to move and groove. As I tell all of my doula clients, “The sassy movements that got you pregnant are the same movements that will get you out of being pregnant.” *wink wink*

During pregnancy, dance helps your body maintain flexibility while toning your muscles. Throughout labor it can help move your baby into position and ease the pain of contractions. As a post-natal workout it can allow a new mommy a much needed hour out of the house and support a faster recovery.

As with any form of exercise, it’s important to work at your own pace and not over extend your ligaments, which are already loosened during pregnancy. Always consult your doctor before beginning any new routine and choose something that you really enjoy, which will help you stick to it.

Here are 3 simple dance moves to stay fit.

Demi-Plié 

How to Move: Start with your legs apart and your feet turned out into second position like in ballet. You can do this in the center of a room or with one hand holding onto a wall or a sturdy chair. Make sure your hips are square and facing forward. Your back should be straight and your core muscles should be engaged to maintain that posture. Now bend your knees stopping half way down, keeping your heels on the floor. Do this for 4 counts bending your knees to plié down, then for 4 counts straightening your legs. With each plié exhale, then inhale as you come up.

How it Helps: Labor is a tiring process. You use every part of your body when it comes times to push. This move allows you to stay in control while strengthening your legs and abdominal muscles. It also does wonders for your butt.

Rock it Out

How to Move: Standing in second position again, slightly bend your knees. Push your right hip out and straighten your legs. Bend your knees again and bring both hips back to center. Push your left hip out and straighten your legs. Now do that back and forth to the beat “1, 2, 1, 2” or to a song like Katy Perry’s “Roar” which is one of my favs.

How it Helps: This kind of hip-opening movement can also relieve lower back pressure during contractions and help align your baby into a proper birthing position.

Pump it Up

How to Move: Put both hands over your head like you are pushing up the ceiling. Do that twice. Now push both hands down on either side of your body towards the floor, twice. So the motion is up, up, down, down. Now as you pump up, slightly bend your right knee twice in front of you. As you push down, bend your left knee twice.

How it Helps: Aerobic exercise can reduce the risk of high blood pressure and gestational diabetes during pregnancy. It can also increase stamina for before, during, and after labor.

My Ready To Pop Playlist

Timber- Ke$ha & Pit Bull

Dark Horse- Katy Perry

Gone, Gone, Gone – Phillip Phillips

Treasure – Bruno Mars

Royals – Lorde

Burn- Ellie Goulding

Roar – Katy Perry

Wings – Little Mix

Find out more about Ready to Pop Dance Fitness!

What activity helped you most to stay in shape. Share your comments below!

Crunchy Love, 

26 Things You Wish Your Kid Said on Mother’s Day

Sometimes I want to change my name, but not tell my kids.  That way when “Mom” gets said on constant loop I can just ignore them.

Other times I think about how long I can hide out in relaxing places like the grocery store.

I don’t want it to sound like I don’t love my kids, because I do. But sometimes they make it very hard to focus on the task of making them into upstanding men, instead of running away, screaming into the night....

Their little brains can’t comprehend the sacrifices I gladly make for them.

Motherhood is not for girls, but for women who can defy all the crazy shit that comes along with it.

And I’m guessing some of us don’t get the real praise and appreciation we deserve.

Sure, we can look forward to a Mother’s Day clay pot, breakfast in bed, or macaroni necklaces.

But is that REALLY what you need?

No, no, no….

So today, in celebration of what it means to be a mom, I want to tell you all the things your Mother’s Day card should say.

Dear Mom, 
This Mother’s Day I want to do something REALLY special for you.  Cherish this shit, you may never hear it again.

1. Thanks for giving up that last slice of apple pie, we know it’s your favorite and is a pain in ass to make.

2. I really appreciate it when you answer my inane questions through the bathroom door. You always know the answer to stuff like why birds always poop on my swing set.

3. I’m sorry that your boobs will never be perky again. 30 of months nursing me should get you some kind of award.

4. You should have a glass or wine (or five). After listening to us fight for the last 3 hours, you deserve it.

5. I apologize for knocking on your bedroom door as soon as dad unstraps your bra. I can get myself a glass of water.

6. I feel so much healthier now that you make us eat kale and other leafy green vegetables.

7. You don’t need to buy me new clothes, I’m cool with last year’s wardrobe.

8. From now on I’m going to start eating my entire school lunch. Hell, give me more carrots!

9. I’m tired of watching Wizards of Waverly Place, you should put on that Channing Tatum/Ryan Gosling movie you’ve been dying to see.

10. Please allow me sort, wash, dry, fold and put away all of my own laundry.

11. Yes, I can’t wait to try that new (insert healthy recipe) you found on Pinterest!!

12. I’m sorry for lying about brushing my teeth; I know you touched my toothbrush and saw it was bone dry.

13. The fact that I can take up a Queen-sized bed, even though I only weigh 35 pounds, is jacked-up.

14. Please enjoy your “girls night out” guilt-free. Dad and I will be just fine.

15. I totally knew it wasn't OK to draw on the wall with permanent marker.  I’ll clean it up.

16. Wow you pumped breast milk in your office bathroom just for me, thanks!

17. Let’s skip my 7 A.M. game lacrosse, you should sleep till 10.

18. Sometimes I run water in the sink and pretend to wash my hands. Sorry I know that’s gross.

19. My room? Already cleaned.

20. I would so much rather stay home with the babysitter. You and dad enjoy a quiet dinner, without strangers glaring at you.

21. Of course I prefer your cooking over Grandma’s.

22. Thank you for banning High Fructose Corn Syrup in our home.

23. I don’t know what the f**k I was thinking asking for a dog/ hamster/cat/ pet monkey. You know you'd be the one to take care of it.

24. It is both rude and inconsiderate of me to wake you up at ridiculous intervals.

25. I understand you have a headache; I’ll go sit quietly in my room and read.

26. Lastly Mom, I just want you know that no matter what, Dad's always wrong.

Love always,

Your kiddo

Please, oh please, share what you wish your kid would tell YOU this Mother's Day!


If you're about to embark on this crazy train to mommyhood, and would like help learning about birth, breast feeding, or anything in-between, give me a shout! SoulFueled Mama is my doula service, here to put YOU first.

Want More Posts Like This? Get My Weekly Newsletter.

Plus the Top 5 Toxic Foods in Your Kitchen Mini E-Book, FREE!

* indicates required

Email Address *

Planning a Medicated Birth? You Can Still Benefit from Hiring A Doula.

"F-this, give me the drugs!"

That seems to be the general feeling whenever the leading lady in a movie is about to push out her baby.

While sometimes having a medicated birth is what a woman chooses, does that mean having a doula becomes obsolete?

I've talked about a few of my experiences as a birth doula, but generally I'm kinda mum on the topic. That's pretty interesting considering I could talk about vaginas, babies, birth, and boobs, ALL DAY LONG!

I recently followed-up with a potential client to see if she had discussed my services with her husband and wanted to hire me.

I've had my fair share of rejects, mostly because the client wasn't prepared for how much hiring a doula costs (I think most women under charge).

I'm totally fine with that because I believe there is a doula for everyone. But this is my business, which means I have to charge based on the value I'm giving.

However, this client didn't hire me for a different reason. After a few emails with this potential client, we'll call "Ashley", I realized that money wasn't the issue.

You see Ashley was planning on having a medicated birth. She figured that because I spoke a lot about the inner strength that women possess and how natural birth is more beneficial for baby and mom, that I would not be able to support her.

In her mind she was probably thinking, "I'm not going to be feeling any pain, what do I need a doula for?"

The truth is, having a doula attend your birth can be SUPER beneficial, even if you plan on using pain medication.

Prior to Birth

All of my clients get the same amount of attention and care from me before delivery. My job is not to determine how each woman decides to give birth, but to help them have an informed, empowered, and safe delivery.

While most women I talk to have the intention of having a natural birth, it is by no means a prerequisite for me to support them. I provide as much information about the pros and cons of using artificial pain management as I can, and then let the woman decide.

Some women feel very strongly, from the get-go, that the pain of birth will be too much to handle. I try to point out, especially for first time moms, a few key points:

1. Most women don't know, until they are in it, how powerful, resilient, and amazing their bodies are.

2. Most women also don't know the world-shaking pain they will feel during transition or the inevitable "ring of fire".

3. But, each of our bodies were made to birth the children we created. Mother Nature has been doing her thang for a LONG time, trust her.

For those who are on the fence, I do my best to offer natural comfort measures that don't have the negative side effects of medication. Doulas are known for having an extensive "bag of tricks" including: massage, acupressure, aromatherapy, visualization, meditation, movement, walking, birthing balls, and deep breathing, just to name a few.

But if the mama decides that she's going straight for the meds, I respect her decision.

During Labor

The beginning stages of labor can be pretty misleading. I've had clients who say to me, after a few hours of contractions, "Wow this is easier then I thought." This is somewhere between 3-7 centimeters of dilation.

I usually encourage them to continue resting, walking and eating, then chuckle to myself because they have NO idea that this ain't the real deal.

Mamas often think that as soon as they start to feel pain they should get an epidural or narcotic. But most OB's and Midwives don't like to administer drugs too early because it can often stall labor, and wear off before transition.

On the other hand, once a woman has reached a certain point in her labor (around 8 or 9 centimeters), many doctors are reluctant to administer medication because contractions are very close together and can hinder the injection being given. *(I was denied an epidural during my first pregnancy because I was too far along.)

No matter if they decide to get something to "take the edge off" or not, no laboring woman can go without having any pain or discomfort. Which is why having a doula there to remind you of the process and how to stay focused can be very helpful.

Some time during the end of this phase of labor the pain becomes more intense. I mean like someone is ripping you open from the inside, intense.

This is usually the point in labor, no matter how confident and prepared a woman is, she questions whether or not she can do this.

It usually sounds something like this, "No, no! I can't do this. I feel like I'm dying. Someone please put me out of my misery. Get this kid outta me!"

If she opts to get an epidural at this point, it's my job to make sure she is clear on what will happen next. Getting pain medication is ironically often a very painful and scary process.

I've embraced clients who were in tears while getting an epidural, all while their partners stood by feeling helpless.

Though that discomfort is temporary, having that calm support can make a world of difference.

Pushing Time!

In some cases when a woman has received an epidural, it has worn off by the time she's ready to deliver her baby. In those cases it's important to have a doula there to guide her through the sensations she's feeling now that the drugs aren't in her system.

If her medication is still in full effect, she will need some guidance & encouragement when its time to push. There is a "right" way to push out a baby, and if you are numb from the waist down it can be hard to tell if you are doing it effectively.

Post-Partum

As part of my standard services I provide post-partum care and support for up to 6 weeks after the birth. Most people like to focus on labor as being the most important part of having a baby. And while it is immensely important to the physical, mental and developmental well-being of both mom and baby to have a good birth experience, those first few weeks at home are just as important.

Whether you had a medicated birth or not, every woman (hopefully) brings home a healthy new baby, which can come with its own set of challenges.

According to Birth Arts International (the organization I trained with) some of the advantages of having post-partum care include:

• Increased earlier bonding with mother and the whole family unit.
• Less chance of infant dehydration and hospitalization with health difficulties due to educated care
• A reduced amount of maternal postpartum depression and shorter duration and easier for mother to cope with it if it occurs
• Less maternal exhaustion, frustration, trepidation and anxiety during early weeks.
• Reduction in unnecessary calls to pediatricians
• The Partner can get back to work sooner with less anxiety
• More of an understanding of newborn emotional and physical needs and behavior
• More care choices, tools for dealing with relations and others.

So if you decide that a natural or a medicated route is for you, having a doula at your side can be a beautiful addition to your birth team.

Did you hire a doula for your birth? Planning a medicated birth but still not sure having one is right for you? Post your comments below!

If you are a mama-to-be and want extra loving support on your Birth Day, I would be honored to assist you. You can email me for a 1 hour consultation at granolaville[at]gmail.com or check out Soul Fueled Mama for more information.

The Truth About Co-Sleeping

When was the last time you got a full 8 hours of sleep?

If you’re drawing a blank, let me paint the scene.

You get into bed with your husband, or alone, close your eyes, and don't wake up until your alarm goes off.

No interruptions. No hungry babies, knobby toddler toes digging into you back, monsters in the closet, or sudden bouts of thirst requiring sippy cups.

I mean a real, good ole’ fashioned snooze-fest. The kind where you wake up in the morning, feeling revived and refreshed!

If you are pregnant with your first child, you’re probably already experiencing a lack of good quality sleep, due to your growing belly.

But if you’re already a mom, this vision of a peaceful night, is more like a mirage, than reality.

Co-sleeping can suck the life out of you!

Never fear! I'm here to make sure you go into this whole bed-sharing thang without delusions of grandeur.

More on that in a minute...

Parents choose to have their children sleep in the same room as them, or in our case, the same bed, for many reasons.

For most of us it's a matter convenience, especially if you're nursing your baby. Just roll on over, slap a boob in their mouth, and you're both back in dreamland within minutes.

Who wants to stumble in the middle of the night to change diapers or soothe a restless baby?

Not me, if I don’t have to!

Even if you don't breast feed, there is something primal or instinctual about keeping our children near us at night.

Every mammal does it. It’s the only way to ensure the survival of their offspring. In the wild you're toast if you're an infant left without the protection of your mother.

I've slept in the same room, if not the same bed as all of my boys until they were about 4 years old.

They always had a crib, but most of the time it was filled with stuffed animals NOT sleeping babies.

Get me the F**K out of here!

When we had our third son, I tried, once again to use the beautiful bassinet my grandmother had given me.

It was the perfect height and even had a drop down side to make it easy for me to watch him.

But, even though this was the third time around, I would constantly check to see if he was breathing. I just felt like he was always safest in my arms.

That bassinet was used, maybe twice, before Nolan moved into our bed.

The truth is there’s something magical about watching your children sleep (and husbands too)!

Be warned, it's damn near addicting. Especially when you know it won't last forever. 

We're now on the tail-end of our co-sleeping time.

After months of false starts and caving into my two-year-old's adorable demands, he is finally in a big boy bed.

Nolan now shares a room with his 7 year old brother, which has made the transition much easier.

While there were nights I wish I could've put him in his old crib, closed the door and ignored the cries for mommy, I'm glad we got that special time together.

I've always known the awesome benefits of co-sleeping, even for children past infancy:

• the whole family sleeps better, with less night-time disturbances when your baby doesn't have to wake up fully to get your attention
• there is a decreased risk of SIDS compared to those solo-sleeping
• your baby gets more bonding time with both parents
• it helps to regulate your infant's sleep cycle to be the same as yours
• breast feeding is SO much easier

However, looking back, there are a few things I wish someone had told me...

Like how you will manage to make due sleeping on the very precipice of your bed, just taunting the floor with the possibility of your face hitting it.

Or how you forget what it's like to actually sleep next to your husband who is now being co*k-blocked by a sweet smelling child.

There ain't NO WAY my husband is getting near me!

I wish someone had told me how deep my son's knees could actually dig into my back before prompting me to turn over and face him.

Or how a 30 (ish) pound baby likes to pretend he's making snow angels in the sheets. (See an awesome depiction of that move below)

From How To Be A Dad

I wasn't prepared for projectile vomit being hurled in my direction during a nasty bout of the stomach flu.

Or that if ones in your bed, the other wants in too !

Nor was I ready to be molested night after night by a kid who was told we are done nursing until the sun comes up.

I really wish someone had explained that it's nearly impossible to get comfortable when your kid kicks the blanket so far off your bed you're only left with the right upper corner to snuggle with.

Mostly, I wish someone had told me that I would secretly love that time, somewhere between 2 and 5 am, when my little one climbs out of his race car bed, staggers down the hall, crawls into my bed and cuddles up next to me.

I really do hope that never ends.

Got any tips for mamas considering co-sleeping? Share them below!

If you're looking for attachment parenting tips or practical ways to balance your needs with your family's, let me know!
To learn more about my holistic lifestyle coaching practice, take a peek at Soul Fueled Living!
And for doula services & birth education for mamas-to-be, check out Soul Fueled Mama

If you liked this post, sign up for our newsletter.

You'll also get the Top 5 Toxic Foods in Your Kitchen Mini E-Book, FREE!

* indicates required

Email Address *

An Open Letter From My Breasts

Dear Nacia,

I know this letter might seem like it's out of the blue, being that we've known each other forever and what-not, but I feel like I need to get some things off my chest *winky-wink*.

Do you remember, back in the day, when I was flat and inconspicuous?

We didn't have a care in the world. Our only concern was catching the latest episode of the Mickey Mouse Club, with fine-ass Justin Timberlake & Ryan Gosling. Who knew one show could house all that hotness!

Mmmm.....

Sorry, where was I....OH yes, you didn't really need to pay me much attention. I just hung around on your chest, not really serving much purpose.

But somewhere around age 12 I started to change. OK let's be honest, I put on a few pounds. I began to fill out in ways I'm not sure you were prepared for, and for that, I apologize.

I went from a shy wall flower, who barely got noticed, to that bitch on the dance floor demanding attention from EVERYONE!

I got SO out of control you had to restrain me! I understood though. I was drawing a lot of attention to myself. I hadn't quite come into my own and I was just trying to figure things out.

Over the next few years we both matured and developed. Yet somehow, I always found a way to steal your thunder.

Brief glances by men turned into full-on ogling. I mean, they didn't even look you in the eyes because they were too busy trying to sneak a peak at me!

It's no wonder you just gave in one day and let me run the show. Let's face it I did make you look GOOD!

You had friends who were struggling with "bee stings" for boobs, while others found themselves shopping for bras with double letters in them.

Not me though. I kept my weight under control. All you need is a handful, right?

I made you look AWESOME in your prom dress and had no problem filling out that fuchsia swimsuit.

We had a pretty good thing going on.

Which is why it pains me to tell you this now.

I'm not naive as to why I was created. I understand that though we've had LOTS of good times together, my purpose is NOT to look good. It's to feed your children.

I don't want it to seem like I'm complaining, because I'm really not.

But here's the thing.....I'm f-ing spent!

The last 28 months, while you've been nurturing and nourishing this last baby boy of yours, I've been used and abused.

Don't get me wrong, I loved it when you first got knocked up and I was voluptuous and curvy. I sat up so high and could see the WORLD!

Those first few weeks after your son was born were rough. I was engorged at times, certainly tender to the touch, and just felt bloated.

Not cute at all.

Then things began to settle down. My milk supply was established and the three of us really got into a good rhythm.

I figured, I could do this for a year. That's how long YOU said I would be at the beck-and-call of your suckling baby. I agreed (what else was I going to do) because I knew how important it was to you.

But shit has gotten out of control.

Your son thinks he can help himself to me whenever he damn well pleases! At the mall, in restaurants, while you're trying to wash dishes....it's ridiculous!

I'm all for showing off, but exposing myself to a room full of strangers is NOT what I signed up for.

He pulls at me, squeezes, and on occasion has bitten his tiny little teeth into me. I'm fine with this occasional kind of attention from your husband, but this kid needs some boundaries.

It's now been almost two and a half years since we started this journey. And I have to honestly say...I'm kinda over it.

The constant touching, grabbing, bouncing his Power Ranger off of me while he nurses, and fondling is more attention than I can stomach. It doesn't even feel special anymore. I've become a shell of my former self, barely able to fill out a C cup.

I can't do this anymore.

So I'm writing this letter to inform you that I'm giving my 30 days notice.

I'm sorry for leaving you high and dry, but a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do.

Maybe in time I can get my weight back up and we can go out for a night on the town with that sexy black dress you love so much.

Until then, I'm going to lay low and PRAY that your boy stops molesting me in the middle of the night. I'm not a flippin 7/11.

Love,

"The Girls"

If they could talk, what would your breasts say to you? Oh please do share so I'm not the only one embarrassed!

Back to Work & Breastfeeding? Your Job May Not Be Safe.

No one ever said being a "crunchy mama" was easy. Sometimes our parenting choices get odd stares or looks of confusion.

Didn't start your kid on solid foods until she was WELL over a year old? Weird.

Let your baby sleep in bed with you? Unsafe.

Cloth diapered? Super weird (and gross).

Made your own organic baby food? Just buy it!

Didn't vaccinate? How dare you!

Breast fed your kiddo until Kindergarten? You've got a first class ticket to CRAZZZZZZYYYY TOWN. All Aboard!!

Yea, we're use to our fair share of judgment and curiosity as to why we "do what we do".

If only those looky-loos knew the truth.....we want to raise happy, healthy, and well-adjusted kids.

Shocking, I know!

Here's the thing that REALLY blows my mind...the fact that we still make it difficult for some families to make these choices.

Raising children is already one of the scariest, most challenging, personal, and of course AWESOME endeavors we may ever face.

This is why it PAINS me to see mothers being bullied or harassed into filling someone else’s parenting mold.

We should all support a mother's right to choose how to raise her child.

In the United States, breastfeeding in public has become quite a hot topic.

From a mother in a grocery store on a military base being asked to leave because she was feeding her baby, to the national news Target made as mothers, across the country, took a stance by staging "nurse-ins".

People (mostly women) have become fed up with the unfair treatment of mothers who choose to nourish their children this way.

While being humiliated or harassed in a public place for breastfeeding your baby can be traumatizing enough, I believe that mothers who work outside the home bear the biggest burden.

Going back to work after being engulfed in new motherhood can be quite a transition, especially for nursing moms.

Every woman deals with some level of guilt if or when it's time to return to her career.

But women who choose to continue breast feeding have a different set of challenges than those mamas who formula feed.

Let me be clear. I am in no way trying to minimize the difficulties non-nursing mothers have. I’m only pointing out that they differ from those nursing moms face. Both should be given equal attention.

But the unfortunate truth of the matter is that women who need to pump to maintain their supply, are not always treated with respect in the workplace.

Yes, there are laws that protect women who breast feed. The Fair Labor Standards Act was amended to "require an employer to provide reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for one year after the child's birth each time such employee has need to express milk."

Unfortunately not everyone is protected.

If you happened to be employed by a small business (less than 50 employees), the law states that if your pumping is causing the employer "undue hardship", they are not subject to these requirements.

In essence, small businesses (defined by an arbitrary number) can refuse to let women use their break time to pump, if they feel it negatively impacts their business.

In the case of a local mom, in my Granolaville, this is exactly what happened.

Kate began working at a local bagel shop in Hopewell Junction, NY when her son was just 2 months old. After being hired, she informed her boss that she was still breastfeeding, and would need 10 minutes of her break to pump milk.

They did not offer her a private place to pump, so she made do by taking her break in her car and pumping.

Three days later, Kate took her lunch break in the dining room of the bagel shop.  She sat down and ate, while discretely pumping milk underneath her jacket.

After lunch, a manager approached her and told her, "A customer complained about you pumping in the dining room. You can't do that because we are supposed to be 'family friendly'."

The irony of a "family friendly" restaurant NOT supporting a mom who is trying to feed her baby is not lost on me.

Kate was completely covered. She didn't expose her nipple, nor whip out her breast to express milk, yet "people" felt uncomfortable.

Most people don't feel it's their place to say to a woman, who is half dressed with her rack perched up for the world to see, to cover up.

Nor do they feel the need to tell a Speedo wearing overweight man at the beach that his rolls of exposed flesh are unsightly or offense.

So why is it that a woman, who is doing her best to be low-key, prompts a patron to complain?

Something is seriously wrong with the way we respect mothers and the choices they make. It's a bullshit double standard.

Kate agreed to not pump in the dining room again, in fear of losing her job. But just a few days later, when she called to find out her schedule, she was given the run around, and was finally told that they were going to go with someone else for her position because she wasn't "working out".

She believes she was let go because of the pumping incident.

Not only did Kate's loss of employment impact her family financially, but it also gave her a rude awakening to the changes that need to be made to protect ALL nursing mothers’ rights.

In her exclusive interview with me, she explained:

This whole experience made me feel very disappointed, especially with one of my female managers, who I thought would understand since she was older than me and had children of her own. Also it disgusts me that smaller businesses can get away with this loophole with the law because of "undue hardship". But, that doesn't change my mind about returning to the working world. I have heard a lot about discrimination against breastfeeding mothers in the workplace and all I can say is you don't know something until you have experienced it firsthand. It made me become more active in breastfeeding rights in the workplace. My goal is to bring awareness to small businesses about breastfeeding mothers in the workplace and I do hope that my goal is achieved.

As a first step, Kate has taken her cause to Albany and Washington, D.C. by writing to NY Senator Kristin Gillabrand and President Obama, in hopes of shedding light on the mothers who have seemingly fallen through the cracks.

What do you think of Kate’s story? Are these nursing laws fair or foul?

Want to get more posts like this straight to your inbox?
Plus the Top 5 Toxic Foods in Your Kitchen Mini E-Book, FREE!

Enter your email!

* indicates required

Email Address *

I Was Living a Holistic Mom Lie

"When you know better you do better." ~ Maya Angelou

I have a confession to make. It's not something I'm proud of, at all.

Before the self-inflicted flogging begins, let me go back for a minute.

Part of the reason I began this journey back to what is real, is due to the health of my now 7 year old son. You see, back when he was an infant he more closely resembled an adorable lizard. I don't mean he was green or slimy, but when he was around 4 months old he began developing scaly patches of skin ALL over his body.

I was semi-familiar with the tell-tale signs of eczema, since I had it as a child too. Itching before a rash appears, dry and rough areas of skin, open sores caused by constant scratching. 

My poor kid's skin was a hot scabby mess!

After seeing many under-educated doctors, who prescribed steroid creams or antibiotics (which only exacerbated his scratching and over-all discomfort), we were finally directed to a dermatologist who understood the root cause.

Food allergies.

Some of his sensitivity might have been avoided if I had breast fed him longer than 3 months. After that I went back to work part-time and left him with run-of-the-mill infant formula. I just didn't know the full range of benefits in momma's milk.

Besides that, I had also fallen prey to the old myth that giving my infant rice cereal or oatmeal in his bottle would help keep him satisfied, without any adverse reactions.

But I was wrong.

You see babies digestive systems aren't like ours.

There is so much evidence that shows why exclusive breast feeding and delaying solids, of any kind, is beneficial to the long-term immune health of your child. The World Health Organization, UNICEF, and American Academy of Pediactrics all recommend, " all babies be exclusively breastfed (no cereal, juice or any other foods) for the first 6 months of life (not the first 4-6 months)."

The health benefits are astounding.

Aside from having greater protection from illness and iron deficiency anemia, delaying solids also allows the stomach to mature and lowers their risk of food allergies.

Most parents (and even many pediatricians) don't understand the connection between good gut health and good over-all health.

Our gut houses 70% of our immune system. All those awesome automatic responses that are meant to protect your body from foreign invaders that can lead to colds, flus, or ear infections, are housed in your small intestine.

Not only is good gut flora important for digestive health, it can also help prevent immune system responses like asthma, eczema, gluten intolerance, and celiac.

Back to your baby's belly.

During the first 4-6 months of life the lining of an infant's small intestine is what is referred to as an "open gut". From Kelly Mom.com:

This means that the spaces between the cells of the small intestines will readily allow intact macromolecules, including whole proteins and pathogens, to pass directly into the bloodstream.This is great for your breastfed baby as it allows beneficial antibodies in breastmilk to pass more directly into baby’s bloodstream, but it also means that large proteins from other foods (which may predispose baby to allergies) and disease-causing pathogens can pass right through, too.

Here's a great visual for what's going on in their little tummies.

If your child is introduced to any solid food, before their stomach has closed, it is more likely that their immune system will see the food particles that seep through as an attack, and create a response to let you know somethin' just ain't right. The result is inflammation, which is sometimes visible on the skin via a rash or eczema.

Our search for answers continued.

After getting a full allergy test work up, we discovered that our son had a dairy allergy (most likely affected by the formula) and a gluten intolerance (attributed to the cereal in his bottle and other early grains.)

Thankfully we've been able to "heal" his gut with a gluten & dairy free diet. He hasn't had an outbreak of eczema in almost 2 years. YAY!

As moms, we only do the best we can with the knowledge we have. Which leads me back to why I used to feel like a fraud.

When my third son (yes I have all boys, and no I'm not going to "try" for a girl) was born 2 years ago I was determined to set his immune system up for success. Knowing that our kids were predisposed to our family history of asthma and allergies, they needed all the help they could get.

I knew I wanted another natural birth, this time at home to start him out with all of the "good" bacteria that only comes from a vaginal delivery. I knew I wanted to avoid vaccinations, which have been linked to creating a fatal outcome when a child's immune system is already compromised. I knew I would exclusively breast feed for at least a year...going on 27 months...and counting....

I was doing everything RIGHT! Right?

Well, sorta. My little cherub-cheeked son is now a healthy 30 pounds, has only had one nasty stomach bug, and a handful of sniffles.

But the lower half of his body looks like it should be attached to someone on The Walking Dead.

My poor kiddo's legs are a war zone of healing wounds and freshly scratched patches of dry skin.

What-in-the-hell...

I know I only have myself to blame. And not just in an obligatory mommy guilt kind of way.

Over the last few years I've learned more and more about the links between chronic inflammation and disease.  Most commonly associated are type II diabetes, heart disease, stroke, some cancers, neurological diseases, autoimmune diseases (like rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, and eczema), Crohn’s disease, fibromyalgia and migraines.

That's a WHOLE lot of illness that could be avoided, if on an anti-inflammatory diet; real fresh food, minimal dairy, lean proteins,  whole grains ( no white sugar, pasta, bread), lots of Omega 3's, plenty of Vitamin D, and a dash of anti-inflammatory spices.

Normal signs of inflammation are heat, pain, redness, and swelling — which are the first signals that your immune system is being called into action. But constant inflammation, or your body always being in defense mode, can lead to an interference with the bodies healthy tissue production.

Here's why I was a "crunchy failure". Even though I knew this information, I was lax in implementing ALL of these changes.

The hardest part was knowing that everything I eat goes directly into my little boy via breast milk. On most days that consists of green juice, healthy fats, very little sugar, fresh fruits and veggies, and a cup of coffee (or 2).

On a busy bad day it meant we were snacking on a cheese stick, a couple of Oreo's, a slice of non-organic toast, and bowl of pasta for dinner.

I thought I was going to get my "holistic mom card" revoked.

So I'm calling myself out on my short comings because truthfully, it was making my baby sick. 

I've committed to being more conscious of our food choices so we can finally nip this eczema in the f-ing bud. 

Thus far it's involved a lot of trial and error; removing one inflammatory food group at a time and waiting a few weeks to see his skin improves. 

It's definitely been challenging getting back to what's real. But now my mistakes can be used to help other crunchy mama's on their journey.

Is there some part of you that's having a hard time shifting your perspective or habits? Do you need help making the small changes that will lead to BIG improvements in your well-being? Sometimes all you need is some loving accountability.

I'd love to support you in creating an action plan that brings balance and bliss into your life. Give me a shout and we can get started with my one-on-one coaching program, Soul Fueled Living.

If you want more inspiration, tips, and sign up for my Weekly Newsletter.

PLUS get the Top 5 Toxic Foods in Your Kitchen Mini E-Book, FREE!

Granolaville's Best of 2012

Wow! 2012 was a whirlwind. Filled with lots of people joining the Crunchy Revolution! We even survived the overly hyped Mayan Apocalypse. (sorry Mayans)

I look back at all the contributor posts and topics inspired by some of my favorite crunchy peeps and I'm so thankful I got to share all these tidbits with you.

I'll be sharing some BIG news via our next newsletter, so if you aren't a subscriber, get on it!

Sign Up For FREE Weekly Crunch

Just in case you didn't have a chance to peruse all the kick-ass recipes, fresh ideas, spiritual connections, or crunchy videos here's a look back at the Top 10 Crunchy Posts of 2012. 


The Perfect Avocado Grilled Cheese Sandwich

I didn't used to be a fan of avocado. Frankly any food that was green and mushy reminded me of baby poop. But when I started introducing solids, to my now 20 month old, avocado topped the list of non-allergenic foods that contained oodles of  healthy fats, with little taste to frighten his forming taste buds.

I figured if he could try something new, so could I. WOW...It was nothing like I imagined. It was smooth and had a buttery quality without the salt. From that day on I was putting avocado on EVERYTHING!...
Read More



9 Tips to Getting Better Sleep

My family and I are on this path to living a more natural and holistic life. We eat better, get moderate amounts of exercise, and try not to put anything in or on our bodies that will knock us off balance mentally, physically, or spiritually.

This morning my husband surprised me by coming home early from work. He said he wasn't feeling well and had gotten little sleep the night before....Read More

Fight the Cellulite, A Starter Guide to Clean Eating

I told my husband after the birth of my first son I refused to have a “Mommy Butt”. You know that flabby, saggy, flat area you see on women who have lost all muscle tone and definition in their once ample behind.

Having gained over 50 lbs (during two pregnancies) it was inevitable that my derriere would get out of place and start heading south...Read More



Do you Need Natural Living to be Easier Than a $10 Hooker?

So here's the deal my crunchy fabulous friends, I love you more than a fat kid loves cake...or in my case organic pumpkin cheesecake.

I also love giving you the BEST and SIMPLEST holistic and naturally living goodies on the inter-webs. The thing is, as with anyone on a journey, sometimes you need to stop right where you are, take a lay of the land and reassess where you want to go and how you want to get there...Read More


The Number One Form of Alternative Care

Chiropractic is the most popular form of alternative medicine, attracting an estimated 280 million visits annually and comprising the third largest profession in health care.  

Derived from Greek words meaning “done from hand,” chiropractic is based on the vital premise that the body has an innate intelligence, or inborn ability to heal.  This ability to heal is regulated through the nervous system, the master control system of the body.... Read More 

I Breast Feed & I Think the Time Magazine Cover Sucks

Finding Acceptance Can Set You Free

I hate being a stay at home mom. Actually, I used to hate it. Two years ago I wanted nothing more than to have the job of my dreams land in my lap (that fantasy usually included a fabulous suit, HUGE pay check, and commuting to NYC where I was appreciated for the amazing work I did).

Reality was quite different....Read More

9 Non-Edible Ways To Use Coconut

Over the last few months coconut oil has replaced all other oils in my pantry, aside from olive oil. When I began using it we had already become accustomed to coconut milk in lieu of cow's milk (though now we are strictly an almond milk family).  My dairy allergic son was even chowing down on coconut yogurt and ice cream. But I had no idea how many uses there were for coconut oil.... Read More

Top 5 Toxic Household Cleaners

You can research the internet until your fingers bleed trying to gather information on which products are safest, and which require a HAZMAT suit. Here's what I've learned: Never Trust Marketing.

Let's face it, companies spend millions, if not BILLIONS of dollars to convince you that THEIR product is the best. At a time when most people have become conscious of the "buzz" words like green, all natural, non-toxic and of course organic....Read More

Charting Your Cycle, How to Get Pregnant (or not) Naturally

Aunt Flo. Dot. My monthly friend or the beast from the East. Most women, from the time they hit puberty, are ruled by the cyclical nature of their bodies.

Some of us, for a time, are obsessed with avoiding pregnancy. Then all of a sudden we hit a certain age and ALL we can think about is making babies. But what do any of us really know about working with our bodies to plan a family?...Read More



Have a Happy & Healthy New Year From Granolaville,